The Fees-Ability Of "Starting" A Family: Common Costs Associated With Adoption.

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

With all the Hollywood hype pitting on-screen sirens and lyric divas against each other, Christina against Britney, Nicole against Paris, And Team Anniston against Team Jolie, when it comes to family you may find your more Angie than Anni, at least as far as adoption is concerned.

With world issues and causes (amidst current catastrophes) at the forefront of everyone’s mind, many couples are getting more and more comfortable with the concept of adoption.

Once you’ve answered the preliminary questions and before you can enjoy the priceless joy of parenthood, you’ll have to fork out the fee for associated with adoption. Among the most common costs are the following:

1. Adoption Fees: Incorporated in this very broad coast is the home study, pre-adoptive counseling, identification of a child for your family, placement fees, and post-placement visits. Should you opt for an independent adoption, where the birth mother is alive, the delivery expenses may be part of the adoption fees as well (although sometimes they are separate). In the case of an international adoption, the adoption fee may or may not include costs such as dossier arrangements, visas, document translation, etc. Adoption of “waiting children” via state or county agencies may cost significantly less and in some instances may even be free of charge. However, the fees involved for private adoption through agencies and via intermediaries can range between $5,000 to $25,000 or more.

2. Home-Study Fee: If separate from the adoption fee can cost between $300 and $3,000. However, adoption experts note that some public agencies sometimes reimburse or offset this expense for their clients.

3. Other (Arbitrary) Costs: While adoption professionals note these as relatively “negligible”, they “are” worth mentioning and include: traveling to and from the agency or attorney’s office, completing and photocopying records and other (various) paperwork, missing time from work or interviews, getting required shots, passports, etc. (for international travel), and arranging for child care for any other children (you may already have).

4. Registration Fee: You may be required to pay for parenting or adoption information classes.

5. Home Study Update: If required may mean an additional fee after one or two years of waiting.

Additional costs include the “obvious” such as the cost of raising a child, which experts note (on average) as an estimated more than $145,000 from birth to 17, not including a college or university education.